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Things To Do in NYC This Weekend with Kids: Free Nutcracker, Tree Lighting, Holiday Fun

Visit Grand Central Terminal for a special train show. Photo by Janet Bloom
Visit Grand Central Terminal for a special train show. Photo by Janet Bloom
12/4/19 - By MommyPoppins

Here we go, holiday season! The weekend features a full slate of kid-friendly holiday fun, starting with a free Nutcracker at Brookfield Place, a performance of Peter and the Wolf narrated by Isaac Mizrahi, and screenings of holiday classics at The Paley Center. Santa is already on the scene, too: In East Flatbush, he'll trot into town on a horse and in Washington Market Park, he arrives in a pedicab with a large elf in the driver's seat. If you're in prep mode for Hanukkah, hit the 14th Street Y's PAUSE/PLAY on Saturday.

Holiday lights all over town blaze to life this weekend—see our roundup of holiday lightings for the one nearest you. Main events include the tree lightings in Fort Greene Park and Carroll Park in Brooklyn, the Astoria Park community tree lighting in Queens, and the tree lighting and holiday bash at the Queens Botanical Garden. In Manhattan, there's the Tompkins Park lighting, Holiday on the Hudson, and the tree lighting event in Carl Schurz Park. And, of course, Park Avenue lights up on Sunday, a little later than usual this year.

For little holiday revelers, see our rundown of the best holiday events in NYC for preschoolers, and don't miss our guide to the best holiday shows for NYC kids. For even more fun with NYC kids, see our new December GoList, consult our jam-packed Holiday Fun Guide, and keep an eye on the bursting-with-fun Event Calendar.

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Enjoy Holiday Time at Paleyland with Santa. Photo courtesy of the Paley Center for Media
Enjoy Holiday Time at Paleyland with Santa. Photo courtesy of the Paley Center for Media

Things To Do All Weekend

PaleyLand Opening Weekend: Meet Santa, My Little Pony and More!

Midtown West – FREE
PaleyLand returns with the arrival of Santa Claus and a packed schedule of weekend meet and greets, photo ops with beloved holiday characters, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Hermey the Elf, Blizz the Snowman, and a Toy Soldier. READ MORE

Seven in One Blow, or the Brave Little Kid

Greenwich Village
The Axis Theatre Company presents its 21st annual production of the beloved family holiday show, Seven in One Blow, or the Brave Little Kid. READ MORE

Intrepid Adventures: Diving into Density

Midtown West
How does Intrepid float? How did Growler dive? Take a tour of the Intrepid's massive aircraft carrier and explore its interactive submarine exhibit, Submerged. Then dive and surface with a Cartesian diver you can make at home and design an aluminum foil boat in a fun workshop. READ MORE

Peter and The Wolf with Isaac Mizrahi - SOLD OUT

Upper East Side
Isaac Mizrahi narrates and directs Sergei Prokofiev's charming children's classic, Ensemble Connect performs the music, and the cast, wearing costumes by Mizrahi, performs choreography by John Heginbotham, bringing the 30-minute story to life. READ MORE

Flavors of the Season: Cocoa

Upper West Side
December is delicious with CMOM's Flavors of the Season series of cooking workshops and food inspired programs. READ MORE

A Charlie Brown Christmas Live

Gowanus, Brooklyn
Join the Peanuts gang again this year and help the show's 11th anniversary at Shapeshifter Lab in Brooklyn. READ MORE

Snow White and the S-E-V-E-N Dwarfs

Upper East Side
H-E-L-P! It’s Forest Wood Elementary School’s Great Spell-Off, when new girl Snow White comes up against Georgia, the Spelling Bee champ and resident Queen Bee. READ MORE
Lincoln Center Kids presents Havana POP. Photo courtesy of the LC KIDS
Lincoln Center Kids presents Havana POP. Photo courtesy of the LC KIDS

Things To Do Saturday, December 7

The Nutcracker at Brookfield Place

Battery Park City – FREE
This free one-hour version of the beloved holiday ballet, performed to Tchaikovsky’s cherished score, is set Art Nouveau-style circa 1907 with innovative choreography by long-time New York Theatre Ballet choreographer Keith Michael. READ MORE

LC Kids: Paige Hernandez - Havana Hop

Upper West Side – FREE
The audience is invited to dance along at this dynamic participation play, Havana Hop, where multidisciplinary artist Paige Hernandez creates three generations of lively women and celebrates the joys of her multicultural heritage.  READ MORE

Carroll Park Holiday Tree Lighting

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Friends of Carroll Park and the Court and Smith Street Business Associations host an evening of songs, snacks, hang time with Santa, music, refreshments, and photo ops. READ MORE

Sinterklass Day at the Wyckoff House Museum

PAUSE/PLAY: LABA Lights for Hanukkah

Union Square — FREE
A festive community Hanukkah celebration with the 14Y LABA Artist Fellows includes exciting activities for the whole family, including a bling-your-dreidel station! READ MORE

Holiday on the Hudson

Upper West Side – FREE
Hudson River Park's annual holiday tree lighting party invites families to celebrate the season with winter arts and crafts, hot chocolate, and live music. READ MORE

First Saturdays for Families: Wind Powered Sculptures

Lower East Side – FREE
Create a collaborative kinetic installation inspired by Hans Haacke: All Connected. Families use materials such as balloons, fabric, and trim to create and install a sculptural element that will then be set in motion by oscillating fans in the Sky Room. READ MORE

Kids and Family Print, Poetry, and Play!

Midtown West
Explore the art of printmaking with SMASH TYPE’s Ben Weber and an interactive workshop with Darrah Carr Dance! READ MORE

Kenan Thompson's Ultimate Comedy Experience Nationwide Comedy Showcase Brooklyn Kids

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Showcasing the raw talents of up-and-coming actors and comedians, ages 8-18, to agents, producers, and an audience of their family, friends and peers, Kenan Thompson's Ultimate Comedy Experience kids showcase will feature special guest headliner and 2019 NYC Kids’ showcase winner Carolyn White. Young stars will be performing their best material in hopes of taking their careers to the next level.      READ MORE

Christmas Party at Washington Market Park

Tribeca – FREE
At this annual Christmas party in Washington Market Park, the big, red-suited guest of honor rides into the park in style: sometimes by pedicab, sometimes peddled by an oversize elf. READ MORE
Annual Park Avenue Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Brick Church
Annual Park Avenue Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Brick Church

Things To Do Sunday, December 8

Friends of Firefighters Santa Event

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
The nonprofit Friends of Firefighters invites families to come and meet Santa and support a great cause. The festivities kick off with holiday music, arts and crafts, a firetruck tour, hot chocolate, milk and cookies, and photos with Santa. READ MORE

Christmas in the Garden

Flushing, Queens — FREE
Get into the holiday spirit when Christmas in the Garden returns to Queens Botanical Garden with live musical performances, photos with Santa (fee required), tree lighting, holiday crafts, face painting (fee required), and big sales at QBG Shop. READ MORE

St. Nicholas Day

Ridgewood, Queens
This annual St. Nicholas Day celebration features all the trappings of a traditional Dutch Christmas: visits with St. Nicholas, small gifts for children, takehome crafts, and food available for purchase. READ MORE

Fort Greene Park Holiday Tree Lighting

Clinton Hill, Brooklyn — FREE
Join the Fort Greene Park Conservancy (FGPC) and for its annual holiday tree lighting. Enjoy free hot chocolate and write letters to Santa while listening to festive songs! READ MORE

Holiday Tree Lighting at Carl Schurz Park

Upper East Side — FREE
This cherished family tradition features carols, the Cantori choir, Orbital Brass, candlelight, candy canes, and hot chocolate. ​ READ MORE

28th Annual Tree Lighting

East Village — FREE
Theater for the New City hosts Tompkins Square Park's tree illumination, with Carolers of Olde New York and music from the Mandel & Lydon Trio. READ MORE

Annual Park Avenue Tree Lighting

Upper East Side — FREE
Park Avenue's illuminated trees—dotting on the Park Avenue Malls between 54th and 97th Streets—switch on for the season.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Winter Garden at Brookfield Place
Carroll Park Carroll Gardens